Hariharan can’t believe KK is gone.KK was not only a co-singer in one of both the singers’ most beloved songs, he was also a friend.
“KK was—it is so impossible to think of him in the past tense—was a softspoken gentle soul.All he wanted to do was sing. He had no interest in parties and networking.And he sang with such passion. He could negotiate the highest notes without stumbling. His ability to sing was godsent.”
Hariharan remembers every detail of the recording of Chhor aaye hum woh galiyan. “Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj were there. Gulzar Saab was there. KK, Suresh Wadkar and I were at the mike. It was magical. That song became the signature tune for both KK and I.”
Not many know that KK and Hariharan sang another song together. “That’s right.It was again for Vishal Bhardwaj. But unlike Chhor aaye hum, this one was a comedy song for a film that never got released. KK and I had so much fun singing it. We both had very serious images . That song showed our fun side. I wish people heard it.”
And being a South Indian, KK like Hariharan sang without a trace of accent.
Laughs Hariharan, “That’s true. Hearing us no one could say which part of India we belonged to. KK listened to a lot of world music. He was a big fan of hard-rock music. To him. singing a Telugu song was no different from singing a Hindi or English song.”
Hariharan is full of admiration for KK’s range. “He had the voice of the film hero . It was filled with youthful romance. KK’s dying is so unnecessary. I know his life could have been saved. 53 is no age to die.I know his wife and children. I don’t know what to say to them. No words seem enough to express my grief and disbelief.”